Interrupted can end feed mechanism



R. E. RENAR Q INTERRUPTH) CAN END FEED July 14,1953

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Filed May 20, 1952 Patented July 14, 1953 INTERRURTED CAN END FEED MECHANISM Roland E. Renard, Los Gatos, Calif., assignor to Pacific Can Company, San Francisco, Calif., a

corporation of Nevada Application May 20, 1952, Serial No. 288,826

1 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mechanism for interrupting the feed of can covers or ends. More particularly, the invention relates to means for stopping the feeding of can covers from a vertical stack of covers onto a feed table upon the happening of a condition which might otherwise damage the machine.

One adaptation of the invention is in connection with a liner-drier for canends. In such a machine, a rubber lining compound is applied to the trough of each end and the compound is then dried or cured. As hereinafter illustrated in greater detail, the unlined can ends are at intervals manually placed in a hopper by an attendant. Below the hopper is a pair of horizontally reciprocating separator bars having knives which remove a single cover from the bottom of the hopper to another station of the machine preparatory to the lining operation. In order for the mechanism which separates the single covers from the bottom of the hopper to operate properly, it is desirable that weight be applied to the bottom cover to bring the same into proper engagement with the severing mechanism. This weight is customarily furnished by the weight of the superimposed covers in the stack above the bottom cover. When the attendant of the machine permits the height of the stack to become depleted beyond a certain minimum height, then the feed mechanism fails to operate satisfactorily and serious damage to the rapidly moving parts may result. The instant invention comprises means for interrupting movement of the separator bars upon the happening of the foregoing-described event.

The invention has further application in other machines wherein it is desired to interrupt the feed of the can ends upon the happening of some specified occurrence, which may be the depletion of the stack of can ends in the feed hopper, deple, tion of some other ingredient which is applied to the can ends, manual actuation of a switch, or the like.

One of the features of this invention is that interruption of the feed of the can ends in accordance with the mechanism. hereinafter described does not necessitate stopping of the drive of the machine with which the mechanism is used. On the contrary, the drive motor continues to turn and the heavy rotating parts likewise continue in their cycles. Thus when the stack in the hopper is re-filled or whatever other event interrupted the feed is remedied, the machine immediately resumes feed operations.

Another feature of the invention is the fact that drive shaft 20 imparts to vertical when feed is resumed the timing of the feed bars is in perfect synchronism with the timing of the other mechanism of the machine, su'ch as, for example, the mechanism which applies lining compound. 1

Still another feature of the invention is the fact that if a jam occurs in the feed mechanism, the latter may come to a stop while the force imparted by the drive mechanism is absorbed by compression of a spring.

Other principal features of the invention reside in the simplicity of operation of the device and its freedom from likelihood of mechanical failure.

With the above andother objectsand advantages in view, the invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan partially broken away showing feed mechanism retracted.

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a schematic top plan showing the feed mechanism in forward position.

Fig. 4 is a schematic top plan showing the feed mechanism held inoperative.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4. T

As described herein, the invention is applied to a liner-drier for can ends, only a fragmentary portion of such a machine being here illustrated. Such a machine is provided with a longitudinal horizontal drive shaft 20 which is rotated by a motor (not shown). Fixed to drive shaft 20 is a bevel gear 2| which meshes with a bevel gear 22 on the bottom of vertical feed shaft 23 which is suitablyjournaled in the main frame 24 of the machine. Fixed to feed shaft 23 is a cam 26 around which is a collar 21 on one end of horizontal connecting rod 28. Connecting rod 28 is pivotally connected at its other end to arm 25 which is fixed on vertical shaft 3! journaled in the main frame 24 of the machine. Rotation of shaft 3|? a synchronous oscillatorymotion.

At the top of the machine there is provided a hopper 36 formed by four vertical rods 3'! projecting above an apertured collar 38 mounted on topof the frame. Said vertical rods 3la're tangent to the can ends placed horizontally therebetween;

and the diameter of the bore of collar 38 corre sponds with the diameter of the can ends. Below 3 collar 38 is a pair of spaced apart horizontally reciprocating separator bars 39. The two bars 39 are connected together by transverse crosshead 43, and when a reciprocatory movement is imparted to the crosshead, as hereinafter explained, the 5 separator bars are caused to reciprocate. Also mounted on the machine is a pair of horizontally longitudinally slidable feed bars 40 retained in ways 4| by stationary horizontal longitudinal feed slides 42. Said feed bars 49 carry pairs of opposed feed fingers 44 which move can ends from station to station in the machine as feed bars 40 are caused to reciprocate by means (not shown) connected to feed shaft 23.

On feed bars 40 aremounted a pair of inwardly extending, opposed feed fingers 44 and mounted on separator bars 39 forwardly of said fingers is a pair of cut-off knives 46. It will further be observed that the separator bars 39 are cut away as indicated by reference numeral 41 between feed fingers 44 and knives 46. As bars 39 retract .rearwardly on their return stroke, the rearward edges of the cut-off knives 45 out between the lowermost and next lowermost can end in the stack of ends, causing the lowermost end to drop downwardly onto a stationary transverse rest 48. When the feed bars 49 move forwardly on their feed stroke, fingers 44 push the can end forwardly onto the feed slides 42 to the next station of the machine. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that there is a tendency for the lowermost can end to lift upwardly upon contact of the knives 46 therewith, instead of dropping downwardly, but that if suificient weight is applied on top of the lowermost can end then proper feeding is assured. Experience with this type of feed has also shown that unless proper weight is applied to the lowermost can end the end maybe turned at an angle and when contacted by feed fingers 44 serious damage to the machine may result. Hence it is essential that sufficient weight be applied on top of the lowermost can end to prevent improper feeding and damage to the machine. The most convenient manner of insuring sufficient weight is by the attendant maintaining a stack of can ends in the hopper 36 which have a combined weight equivalent thereto. The application of the present invention herein described relates to means for interruptin the reciprocation of the separator bars 39 when the height of the stack of can ends in the hopper is depleted below a safe weight.

In order to impart reciprocatory motion to crosshead 43 and thence to bars 39, a link 5| is pivotally connected to the crosshead 43, the 0p- 'posite end of said link 5| being pivotally connected to one end of horizontal rocker arm 52.

The opposite end of arm 52 is mounted upon, but

. not fixed to, the top of vertical shaft 3|. Thus arm 52 does not necessarily oscillate with shaft 3 l,

but on the contrary arm 52 may be restrained from movement by means hereinafter described, and when said arm 52 is held against movement, bars 39 are likewise held against reciprocation, Whereas 'whenarm. 52 oscillates, bars 39 normally reciprocate. V Restraint of movement of arm 52 is accomplished by means of a lever 53 which oscillates with arm 52, said lever 53 being engageable with a detent 54 on one arm of bell crank 56, the opposite arm of bell crank56 being connected through link 51 with the armature 58 of solenoid 59. When solenoid 59 isenergized, detent 54 is broughtinto engagement with a cooperating p91:

4 tion 6| of lever 53 and thus arm 52 is locked in retracted position.

Solenoid 59 is energized upon closing of switch 66, said switch being closed by movement of pivoted vertical lever 61 which is mounted on one 7 of the vertical rods 31, said lever 61 carrying a roller 68 which is outwardly displaced by the can ends inthe stack. When the height of the can ends in the stack is below the level of roller 68,

then spring 69 biases roller 68 inwardly, this movement being transmitted by lever 61 to switch 66 which is then closed, energizing magnet 59.-

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that when the stack of ends is below the level of roller 68, solenoid 59 is energized and the bars 39 are restrained against movement.

Arm 52 is I e-shaped in transverse cross-section, having horizontal and vertical portions II and 12, respectively, as illustrated particularly in Figs. 5 and 6. In order to impart oscillatory motion to 7 said arm '52 when it is not restrained by detent 54, a stub arm 13 is fixed on shaft 3|, said stub arm 13 normally underlying the horizontal portion H of arm 52 and abutting the inner surface of vertical portion 12. The outer end of stub arm 13 is pivotally connected to a horizontal pin 14 which projects out through a slot 16 in the vertical portion 12, there being a coil spring 1! on the outwardly extending part of pin l4 and bearing against arm 52 at one end and nut 18 threaded on pin 14 at the other which normally biases arm 52 for movement with stub arm '13. The compressive force of spring 11 may be adjusted by means of nut 18. Normally when detent 54 does not engage lever 53, spring ll causes arm 52 to oscillate with stub arm 73, but when detent 54 engages lever 53 and arm 52 is held stationary, oscillation of stub arm 13 merely causes compression of spring 11.

The foregoing described movement is apparent from comparison of Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive. In Fig. 2, the position of the parts is such that connecting rod 28 has been moved by cam 26 toward the right and hence stub arm. 13 is turned clockwise to retracted position. Bars 39 are likewise in retracted position. In this figure the number of can ends in stack 36 is assumed to be such that switch 66 is open and hence detent 54 is drawn back out of contact with lever 53.

.In Fig. '3 it will be seen that cam 26 has caused connecting rod 28 to move toward the left, thus causing shaft 3| to oscillate stub arm 73 counterclockwise. Since detent 54 is out of engagement with lever 53, spring 11 has forced arm 52 also to rotate counter-clockwise and thus bars 39 are advanced.

In Fig. 4 it is assumed that the level of ends in hopper 36 is such that solenoid 59 has been energized, thus'causing detent 54 to engage lever 53 and restrain arm 52 against movement. The position of cam 26 is the same as in Fig. -3, and thus connecting rod 28, shaft 3|, and stub arm 13 have all assumed the same positions as in Fig. 3. It will be seen that pin 14 has been partially pulled through slot 19 in arm 52, thus compressing spring 17. When detent 54 is subsequently retracted by filling hopper 36, spring 1'! causes stub arm 3 to return to firm engagement with the vertical portion 12 of arm 52, as is the case in Figs. 2 and 3.

Another feature of the invention is apparent from consideration of the foregoing. Let it be assumed that the height of stack 36- is such that detent 54 is retracted from engagement withlever 53, but that some accident has jammed the feed mechanism. Bars 39 may beheld stationary by the jammed ends, but stub arm 13 continues to oscillate and periodically compress spring 11 without in any way damaging the machine. Thus a Valuable safety mechanism is provided for release when reciprocation of feed bars is in any way impeded.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a frame, a reciprocatory bar slidable in said frame, a shaft journaled in said frame transverse to the direction of reciprocation of said bar, means for oscillating said shaft, a first arm mounted on said frame for oscillatory motion in a plane parallel to the plane of reciprocation of said bar, means for transmitting oscillatory motion of said first arm into reciprocatory motion of said bar, a detentengaging member carried by said first arm, a moveable detent arranged to contact said detentengaging member when in a first position to restrain oscillation of said first arm and when in a second position to permit oscillation of said first arm, a solenoid operatively connected to said detent to move said detent between first and second positions, a switch controlling energization of said solenoid, a second arm fixed for oscillation with said shaft, and resilient means biasing said first and second arms for oscillatory movement together.

2. In combination, a frame, a reciprocatory bar slidable in said frame, a shaft journaled in said frame transverse to the direction of reciprocation of said bar, means for oscillating said shaft, an apertured flanged first arm mounted on said frame for oscillatory motion in a plane parallel to the plane of reciprocation of said bar but independently of movement of said shaft, linkage means for transmitting oscillatory motion of said first arm into reciprocatory motion of said bar, a detent movable from first position to second position and when in first position operable to restrain oscillation of said first arm, a solenoid operable to move said detent between first and second positions, a second arm fixed for oscillation with said shaft and normally abutting the flange of said first arm, a pin fixed to said second arm and projecting through the aperture in the flange of said first arm, and a spring on said pin on the side of said flange opposite said second arm, said spring biasing said first and second arms into close engagement for oscillatory movement together, said spring being distortable to permit oscillatory movement of said second arm while said first arm is held stationary by said detent.

3. In combination, a frame, a hopper for can ends on said frame, a reciprocatory bar slidable in said frame below said hopper, means carried by said bar for removing a can end from said hopper on each stroke of said bar, a shaft journaled in said frame transverse to the direction of reciprocation of said bar, means for oscillating said shaft, a first arm mounted on said frame for oscillatory motion in a plane parallel to the plane of reciprocation of said bar, means for transmitting oscillatory motion of said first arm into reciprocatory motion of said bar, a detentengaging member carried by said first arm, a movable detent arranged when in one position to restrain said member and said first arm, a solenoid oper-atively connected to said detent to move said detent toward and away from said one position, a switch proximate saidhopper controlling energization of said solenoid to restrain said first arm when the quantity of can ends in said hopper is less than a predetermined amount, a second arm fixed for oscillation with said shaft, 2. pin on said second arm, and resilient means biasing said first and second arms for oscillatory movement together.

4. In combination, a frame, a hopper for can ends on said frame, a reciprocatory .bar slidable in said frame below said hopper, means carried by said bar for removing a can end from said hopper on each stroke of said bar, a shaft journaled in said frame transverse to the direction of reciprocation of said bar, means for oscillating said shaft, an apertured flanged first arm, mounted on said frame for oscillatory motion about the same axis as said shaft but independent of movement of said shaft, means for transmitting oscillatory motion of said first arm into reciprocatory motion of said bar, a detent movable from first position to second position and when in first position operable to restrain oscillation of said first arm, a solenoid operable to move said detent between first and second positions, a switch proximate said hopper controlling energization of said solenoid to restrain said first arm when the quantity of can ends in said hopper is less than a predetermined amount, a second arm fixed for oscillation with said shaft and normally abutting the flange of said first arm, a pin fixed to said second arm and projecting through the aperture in the flange of said first arm, and a spring on said pin on the side of said flange opposite said second arm, said spring biasing said first and sec ond arms into close engagement for oscillatory movement together, said spring being distortable to permit oscillatory movement of said second arm while said first armis held stationary by said detent.

ROLAND E. RENARD.

Name Date Russell Sept. 19, 1944 Sanford May 7, 1946 Number 

